The Manitoba government has established a new provincial park at Fisher Bay on Lake Winnipeg.

"Fisher Bay Provincial Park is Manitoba's 86th provincial park and the fifth park designation in the last 12 months," Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie announced Monday.

"This new park provides opportunities for Manitoba families and visitors from across the country to enjoy our province's natural beauty in a spectacular setting."

The park, located about 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg and encompassing 84,150 hectares, includes sandy beaches, treed shorelines, old-growth forest, muskeg and bog landscapes, and a wide diversity of wildlife — moose, white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, timber wolf, lynx, red fox, beaver, muskrat, ruffed grouse and bald eagles, according to the province.

The park area also provides habitat for the endangered piping plover.

"The Fisher Bay provincial park is a momentous step toward protecting the environment, sustaining culture and tourism opportunities for local communities in the area," Chief David Crate of Fisher River Cree Nation stated in a news release.

"We look forward to continuing efforts with government and our partners in garnering full protection of the region."

Aboriginal and treaty rights will be respected and maintained in the park area, said Blaikie, adding the land in the park will remain as is and current hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering activities of local and all provincial citizens will continue.

Commercial fishing and trapping activities will not be affected by the park designation, he said.

"This new provincial park was only made possible because of a solid co-operative effort by the Fisher River Cree Nation and other organizations involved," said Blaikie.

"There was a strong desire to see Fisher Bay provincial park a reality and I'm pleased we could work together to make it happen."

"Manitoba is a better place for safeguarding this wondrous natural area," said Ron Thiessen, executive director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.